Today in medicine ...

A look at recent studies in medicine and how they may help us in the future.

Comparisons of heart attack triggers Study subjects: Data was collected from 36 pieces of researchLocation of study: BelgiumResults: Spending time in traffic — as a driver, cyclist or commuter — tops a new study list of everyday activities that increase the risk of heart attack. Factors including stress and exposure to pollution put cyclists in greatest danger. Other risk factors included negative emotions (3.9 percent), anger (3.1 percent), eating a heavy meal (2.7 percent), positive emotions (2.4 percent) and sexual activity (2.2 percent). Cocaine accounted for 0.9 percent of heart attacks, but this was because of limited exposure to the drug among the population.Significance: While identifying risk factors that led to heart attack, the study also brought into focus the added risk of pollution.

Effect of education on blood pressureStudy subjects: 4,000 individuals over 30 yearsLocation of study: United StatesResults: Systolic blood pressure levels of men who had gone on to study in graduate school were 2.26 mmHg lower than those of high school dropouts. For women, the differential was even higher at 3.26 mmHg. Alcohol consumption and other factors were taken into account.Significance: Possibly due to access to better jobs, educated people might suffer less stress than those who don’t advance past high school.